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laylarouse's review against another edition
5.0
Well-written murder mystery. The main character is an investigation journalist who traveled to a small NC beach town to cover a rape case for her podcast. While there she investigates a murder from 25-years ago of a young high school student. The chapters weave between the current case, her podcast, and the historic case. The author paints the story of the rape and violence very clearly so not for the faint of heart. I foresaw part of the ending but the author brings it all together well with a strong closing.
tspalds's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up the second book in the Rachel Krall series, [b:Dark Corners|61884922|Dark Corners (Rachel Krall, #2)|Megan Goldin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1666694500l/61884922._SY75_.jpg|97563814], as my July Book of the Month without ever reading the first one in the series or even thinking of reading it. Although the books don't necessarily need to be read in order, it definitely helps give context. I picked this up from the library and once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The way that Golden writes is fast paced and pulls the reader in so seamlessly. I loved getting multiple POVs along with snippets from the podcast. The trial was hard hitting and at times hard to read (definitely a few trigger warnings to be had), but also the topic was treated with respect. I devoured this book in one day and am so looking forward to picking up the second one. Brava [a:Megan Goldin|16718134|Megan Goldin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1501066198p2/16718134.jpg]!
maeubh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.25
amfcknf's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
the_raven_writes's review against another edition
2.0
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin has a message to send. It's an important message, but it overshadows the rest of the book. This novel isn't about a mystery; it's about standing up for a cause. Ordinarily, I wouldn't mind, but this book's outlook on men/woman relationships is so grim that I walked away thinking that every man is a rapist and every woman a victim. I wish the book had come with a trigger warning since the graphic depictions of rape will, unfortunately, haunt me forever.
The parts of the story that I found the most interesting were those written from Hannah's point of view. Her story is gripping and harrowing. I felt like I really got to know this character, and I wanted to learn everything about her and what had happened during the summer that her sister died.
On the other hand, I didn't care for the rest of the book. The readers never get to know the main character, Rachel. She's lifeless and cardboard. The chapters dedicated to her podcast are also invasive. I would have preferred not to read them at all.
I had high expectations going in, but this wasn't my favorite book of the summer. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy.
Two out of five stars.
The parts of the story that I found the most interesting were those written from Hannah's point of view. Her story is gripping and harrowing. I felt like I really got to know this character, and I wanted to learn everything about her and what had happened during the summer that her sister died.
On the other hand, I didn't care for the rest of the book. The readers never get to know the main character, Rachel. She's lifeless and cardboard. The chapters dedicated to her podcast are also invasive. I would have preferred not to read them at all.
I had high expectations going in, but this wasn't my favorite book of the summer. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy.
Two out of five stars.
sarahbb_'s review against another edition
1.0
As someone who enjoys true crime podcasts and shows, I was really excited to read this. Unfortunately, the reader must suspend disbelief, read from the perspectives of irritating and unrelateable characters, and suffer through a writing style that is quite difficult to read at first. There is a sense the author is almost trying too hard to create a mystery/thriller. Overall, I was disappointed.
carolefort's review against another edition
5.0
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin is an intriguing story within a story. Rachel Krall is starting the third season of her true crime podcast and she will be investigating and reporting on a rape trial in Neopolis. The granddaughter of the former police chief has accused one of the town’s golden boys of rape. Rachel soon starts receiving letters from an unknown sender, asking her to investigate the death of another teenager, Jenny Stills, who had drowned twenty-five years ago. Her death had been judged to be accidental but it might have been murder. Rachel, as a journalist and investigator, now has two cases on her plate and she will need to find out what really happened to these two young women. Everyone in town seems tight-lipped and uncooperative and details are obscure. The Night Swim deals with a taboo crime where the victim is often held responsible for her attack, instead of her attacker. This thriller addresses a subject that often does not see the light of day. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
sarahbuc's review against another edition
5.0
A true-crime podcast host covering a controversial trial finds herself drawn deep into a small town's dark past and a brutal crime that took place there years before.
Enter Rachel the host of the true-crime podcast who became an overnight sensation setting an innocent man free. She's also the last hope for people seeking justice, yet she's not used to being recognized face to face. Which makes things pretty unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, with her name on it, begging her for help.
With a new season of her podcast already in place, she is brought to a small town being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. A local golden boy, a swimmer who was destined for the Olympics has been accused of rapping the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make her third season a success, she throws herself into the investigation. Yet those mysterious letters keep appearing. Whoever is following her won't stop until she finds out what happened to her sister Jenny 25 years ago.
Jenny tragically drowned, yet the letters insist that she was murdered. And when Rachel starts asking questions, no one wants to answer them. The past and present begin to collide as she uncovers a startling connection between the two cases.
From the beginning my attention was grabbed, their were chills running down my spine as the narration of Rachel and the letter writer begin to uncover the truth of what happened twenty five years ago along with the current trial. Rachel was easy to get to know with her desire to cover the trial, do her podcast and stay anonymous in her own way. What was unsettling was the letter writer and how she managed to know who Rachel was along with where she was. Enough to give anyone the creeps.
As the story progressed Rachel found out more and more, yet you could tell that town was very good at covering certain things up or keeping quiet about others. Which made what happened twenty five years ago suspicious. What really did happen? Even the current trial with the ruthless lawyers and the jury, each painting the local boy and girl in a light that made you sympathetic to both until you weren't and more than likely had taken a side.
I also wondered how the two were connected and the story that Goldin wove between the two was one that I didn't see coming at all. It brought to light so much tragedy and lies, because somewhere in there the truth comes out right? By the end I knew this was an amazing book that by the last hundred I devoured in one sitting.
Enter Rachel the host of the true-crime podcast who became an overnight sensation setting an innocent man free. She's also the last hope for people seeking justice, yet she's not used to being recognized face to face. Which makes things pretty unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, with her name on it, begging her for help.
With a new season of her podcast already in place, she is brought to a small town being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. A local golden boy, a swimmer who was destined for the Olympics has been accused of rapping the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make her third season a success, she throws herself into the investigation. Yet those mysterious letters keep appearing. Whoever is following her won't stop until she finds out what happened to her sister Jenny 25 years ago.
Jenny tragically drowned, yet the letters insist that she was murdered. And when Rachel starts asking questions, no one wants to answer them. The past and present begin to collide as she uncovers a startling connection between the two cases.
From the beginning my attention was grabbed, their were chills running down my spine as the narration of Rachel and the letter writer begin to uncover the truth of what happened twenty five years ago along with the current trial. Rachel was easy to get to know with her desire to cover the trial, do her podcast and stay anonymous in her own way. What was unsettling was the letter writer and how she managed to know who Rachel was along with where she was. Enough to give anyone the creeps.
As the story progressed Rachel found out more and more, yet you could tell that town was very good at covering certain things up or keeping quiet about others. Which made what happened twenty five years ago suspicious. What really did happen? Even the current trial with the ruthless lawyers and the jury, each painting the local boy and girl in a light that made you sympathetic to both until you weren't and more than likely had taken a side.
I also wondered how the two were connected and the story that Goldin wove between the two was one that I didn't see coming at all. It brought to light so much tragedy and lies, because somewhere in there the truth comes out right? By the end I knew this was an amazing book that by the last hundred I devoured in one sitting.
slibourel's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Megan Goldin crime thriller I've read. I'll be looking for more from her. There were a few glaring gaps or inconsistencies but they didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. As the story went on, I was able to solve quite a few of the mysteries, but it felt intentional. As we got to know the characters, the information came out quite naturally. Recommended!
juicy25's review against another edition
5.0
I would say 4.5 but I couldn’t round down to 4. So so good!